* Says SDP is known to be a disciplined, original party
* Echoes ‘this one’ Gbagi, SDP ‘is our own’
* As Delta North monarchs receive Gbagi, SDP in Asagba’s Palace
The Asagba of Asaba, HRM, Obi Prof Chike Edozien and fellow monarchs across Delta North have expressed confidence in the philosophy behind Delta state 2023 governorship bid of Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi under Democratic Party SDP with firm believe in his chances at hitting the target.
Obi Edozien who spoke the minds of over 30 Delta North monarchs who gathered in his Palace at Asagba to receive Olorogun Gbagi’s campaign train also acknowledged the candidate’s wise choice ticket under the SDP as a disciplined and original party platform.
The erudite Asagba told Gbagi, renowned industrialist and criminologist that, “On behalf of all the traditional rulers here, we heard you, your philosophy and we know you are going forward. We wish you well.
“My stand on Social Democratic Party SDP is that it is one of the original party created which have so much discipline and have survived so many decades, congratulations. We had the privilege of hosting many politicians and political parties here in my palace but this one is one of our own.
“Anybody outside this room will not believe we are hosting politicians because we have this kind of issues surrounding political parties and you are here now with so much discipline.”
Reminding the candidate of Anioma’s culture of returning gratitude to those who mean well for their people, the Asagba further told Gbagi, “We recognise people who have done things for us, Nigerian people.
“General Babangida who created the state and made Asaba the capital is the only person, the whole of Anioma traditional rulers have come together to honour and gave him a title, “Odogwu of Anioma”.
“We know as you are playing an important role in that regard and you are contesting a similar situation now as you are contesting for governorship of Delta state and beside you is our daughter (the candidate’s wife of Anioma descent).
“When you become governor of Delta state, one of the first things we want you to do is create the office of the first lady so when we come and you are busy, we can spend time with our daughter so that whatever we discuss with her will be heard by you. And just like we honoured Mrs. Marian Babangida on her birthday 1st of November every year.”
The Asagba expressed displeasure over the disposition by government to undermine the role of traditional rulers in political life of the people, hoping that Gbagi, on ascension to power would make the difference in moving to change that narrative in governance of the country.
He told the SDP governorship hopeful, “We are here to receive you and hear what you have to say but there is a generic opinion that traditional rulers should not participate in politics, but I don’t understand that.
“That we are not politicians and should not be party members in any political parties, that we have no role in politics as traditional rulers and what goes on in the country.
“The role of traditional rulers in my mind is not to keep silent but to support the best candidate that will do things for the community no matter what party they belong. That is what I have been preaching to the traditional rulers.
“Until all the traditional rulers come together to recognise what is good for their communities and the government of the day listens and applies that advice, Nigeria will never be stable.
“I hope that it will be taken seriously in the ongoing deliberations on the Nigerian constitution because the role of the traditional rulers should be written into it as we are the ones that will make it possible for 250 ethnic groups to live peacefully together.
“Security in Nigeria is very porous because the traditional rulers at the grassroot have not been involved in the whole security system. One of the ways to effective security in Nigeria is to recognise the role of the traditional rulers in the governance of Nigeria.”
The Asagba of Asaba in his mother tongue invoked prayer of blessings and support for Olorogun Gbagi, OON in the high hope to win as the next Governor of Delta state, come 2023.
Dignitaries in the Gbagi campaign train to Anioma include his wife, the Honourable Justice Sybil Gbagi, JCA, the Director General of the Campaign Council, Prof. Jiff Mokobia, Director Research & Policy, Prof. A. Atubi, Chief Oke Idawene, and among other associates and leaders of the SDP in Delta.